Railway-track signal



Dec. 25, 1923. 3,478,592

F. L. WANKLYN I RAILWAY TRACK SIGNAL Filed June 2-, 1925 I mm mfPatented Dec. 25, 123.

' FREDERIC L. WANKLYN, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

RAILvVAY-TR-AGK SIGNAL.

Application filed June 2, 1823.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC L. WANK- LYN, of the city of Montreal,Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailway-Track Signals; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates particularly to torpedoes for use along the railwaytrack as signals warning a train approaching another train which isstalled, or any other point of danger. It relates particularly to thatstructure of the torpedo by which the torpedo is fastened to the rail,this structure in my present invention being of necessity possessed ofmaximum holding power within the capacity of the materials employed.

The invention includes a container adapted to contain the relativelylarge bulk necessitated by the requirement in the torpedo to produce aloud noise, a brilliant flash, a pungent odour and smoke incontradistinction to those torpedoes which produce a noise only. Icombine with this container a resilient wire clip of particularconstruction for fastening the torpedo to the head of a rail. This clipconsists of a wire arch presenting a straight top, to facilitate pivotalconnection to the bottom of the con tainer, and straight sides adaptedto lie flat on the sides of the rail head, such legs converging slightlyand being united to the straight top by relatively wide curved shouldersto present a form set to possess maximum inherent resilience andstrength. The extremities of the legs have semi-circular formterminating in straight ends disposed parallel to the legs and havingconical teeth at their ends for the purpose of biting into the surfaceof the under shoulder of the rail head.

For full comprehension, however, of my invention reference must be hadto the accompanying drawings in which similar reference charactersindicate the same parts, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a rail head with my improvedtorpedo clip in place;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the torpedo;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the torpedo; and

Serial No. 643,1 13.

Figure 4 is a detail eievation of the resilient wire clip.

The container in order to provide the necessary properties andqualifications to accommodate a relatively large charge such as requiredto produce noise, a flash of light, a pungent odour and a smoke consistsof thin sheet pyralin or pyroxylin, as indicated at 7) and theinflammable materials for detonation, flash, etc. are indicated at 0,(Z. To fasten securely to the rails this container of relatively largecapacity I employ a comparatively stiff wire in the form of an arch withstraight top (Z pivotally secured to the underside of the container thesecuring means consisting of a strip of fabric or other suitablefastening, straight legs 6, round shoulders presenting a broad curve andthe extremities of the legs being bent to semicircular form 9terminating in straight portions it with conical teeth is. The straightportions 7: are disposed parallel to the legs 6.

This combination of curves and straight portions produces in the clip aresilient property adapted to absorb the vibrations of the rail withoutdisplacement of the teeth from the particular points on the shoulders ofthe rail with which they come into engagement when the torpedo is set inplace, the straight portions 72, coacting with the semi-circular curves9 to enable a trainman to, while holding the container securely in hishand, strike the clip onto the head of the rail, these curvedextremities and straight portions riding over the sides and snappinginto position with the teeth biting into the metal of the underside ofthe shoulder of the rail head.

This particular form of clip efiectively holds the torpedo in placenotwithstanding its increased bulk because of the materials in additionto the detonator contained within it. Although I prefer teeth of conicalform for the biting ends of the clip, pyramidal or chisel points do notdepart from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim i as follows:

1. The combination with a railway signal torpedo container containing asubstance exploded by concussion, of a resilient wire clip for fasteningthe container to a rail head, such clip consisting of an arch presentinga straight top and straight converging side legs united to the top byrelatively wide curved shoulders and the extremities of the legsconsisting of semi-circular curves terminating in straight ends withteeth for biting into the surface of the underside of the rail head, andmeans pivotally connecting the straight top portion of. the clip to theunderside of the container.

2. The combination with a railway signal torpedo container containingflash powder and a detonator of a resilient wire clip for fastening thecontainer to a rail head, such clip consisting of an arch presenting astraight top and straight converging side legs united to the top byrelatively wide curved shoulders, and the extremities of th legsconsisting of semi-circular curves terminating in straight ends withteeth for biting into the surface of the underside of the rail head, andmeans pivot-ally connecting the straight top portion of the clip to theunder side of the container.

3. The combination with a railway signal torpedo container containing asubstance exploded by concussion, of a resilient wire clip for fasteningthe container to, a rail head, such clip consisting of an arch presenting a straight top and straight converg ing side legs united to thetop by relatively wide curved shoulders, and the extremities of the legsconsisting of semi-circular curves terminating in straight ends withconical teeth for biting into the surface of the underside of the railhead, the said straight ends being each disposed in a plane parallel toi s legs, and means pivotally connecting the straight top portion of theclip to the underside of the container.

i at. The combination with a railway signal eachdisposed in a planeparallel to its legs and means pivotally connecting the straight topportion of the clip to the underside of the container.

In testimony whereo1 I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two witnessess.

FREDERIC L. WANKLYN.

Witnesses ANNA L. VINEBERG, JEANNE BAILLAYION.

